Car coupler



Dec. 17, 1940. E. A. LARssoN CAR COUPLER Filed April 7, 1939 3 Shepts-Sheet l l n 9 l Iliff/MMI 2 's nbentor ERNST LssaN Dec. 17, 1940. E. A. LARssoN 2,225,418

CAR COUPLER vme@ April '1, 19:9 s sheetssheet 2 :inventor ERNST A'. LABssoN Gttorneg Dect 17, 1940. E. A. LARsspN om coUPLER Filed April 7, 1959 s sham-sheet s ERNST Lmessou Suventor Patented Dec. 17., 1940 f E 2,225,418 cARcoUPLER Ernst A. Larsson, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application lApril 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,591 11 claims. (o1. 213-21) My invention relates to cai.- couplers and par- Fig. 14 is a plan view of a centering link which ticularly couplers of the automatic coupling'type I employ as an element of the centering mech'- UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE suitable in industrial and mine operations. anism. i n

One object of my invention is to provide a Fig. 15 is a view in partial section'taken on coupler in which resilient' non-metallic material theline I5-I5 of Fig. 2'. f vI5 is employed for cushioning the impact at the AThe preferred embodiment of my invention instant of coupling 'and also to relieve the equipcomprises couplers of the type shown in Tomlin-v ment of shqcks during haulage. Y son P atent 1,609,444 which is of the automatic Another object of my invention is to provide coupling type Vemploying a. male and a female the coupler means to automatically center the head;y This type of coupler permits making the 10 heads when the couplers are in a. non-coupled complete coupler quite short which is very desircondition. able `in industrial and mine haulage andalso per- Another object of my invention is to provide mits of coupling when the cars are on curves of the coupler means to Apermit one orlmore cars of short radii, that is, when the longitudinal axesv of a train consisting of a plurality'of coupled cars, the cars tobe coupled are disposed ata very conl5 to be rotated about the axis of the coupler in orsiderable 'angle' from alignment. der to dump the same without disturbing the The male coupler consists inA generalY of a head other cars in the train. i I, a draw bar 2, and a resilient anchorage 3, and 4My invention resides in the new and novel coninv Fig. 1 these parts are shown assembled and struction, combinationand relation of the parts mounted on a car body A. v 20 herein described and shown in the drawings ac- The female coupler comprises a head 4 which ccmpanying this specification. has integrally combined 4with it a draw bar 5,andA In the drawings: Y the resilient anchorage 3 'attached to a car body Fig. 1 represents two ca bodies with two cou- B, as shown in Fig. 1. 1 A plers, one on each car, in position to be coupled, The male head comprises a flange 1 having a 25 the right-hand coupler being of a male type and bufiing face 8 and a hollow projecting tongue 9. the left-hand coupler `being of a female type. The tongue 9 is providedwith a transverse slot Fig. 2 is a top view of two heads in coupled re- IIl which has -a bearing face" II for the lock or lation and each attachedto a support, as for inlatch I2 (shown in Fig. 6). The head is also'pro- 3o stance the front plate of acar body. vided with a collar portion I3. 30

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2. ,y Slidably mounted in the rear end of the head Fig. 4 is a view in partial section of the male I in telescopic-relation thereto is the draw bar 2 Coupler taken 0n 8. Vertical plane through the provided with a'collar I4 and a clevis end which center line A-A of Fig. 2. is formed of spaced portions I5 vforming the slot Fig. 5 is a view in partial section of the male I6 therebetween;y VThe draw bar is'provided with 35y head taken 0n 2`h0riz0r1iia1 plane thrOugh the oppositely'disposed slots I1 which cut through center line B-B of Fig. 3. the flange I4 to receive a. pin I8 for the purpose Fig. 6 is a view in partial section of the female later described. The drawbar is provided'on the coupler taken on a vertical planel through the sides with vbutting faces I9 which are absent Center line A-A of Fig. 2. above and below, that is, these faces do not ex- 40 Fig. 'l is a view in partial section of the female vtend entirely around the tubular cylindrical porhead taken on a horizontal plane through the -tion`20 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13V and therefore center line B-B of Fig. 3. c a space 6 exists on the upper and lower sides of Fig. 8 taken onthe line 8'8 of Fig. 2 shows in the coupler as shown at 6.

partial section a view of the resilient draft gear Y The draw bar is also provided with'buiiing faces 45 whichvI employ."l Y' y e Y A 2I which are arranged to engage with the resilient Fig. 9v isla sectionalv viewcorrespondingto that anchorage 3 should the coupler swing away from of 5 showing `Vthe resilient'anchorag'e" and a itsrnormal position in excess of a predetermined pcrtion'lof draw lbar1'a`nd1cen`terin'g',mechanisxn amountf n when thecfoupler-is 'outjof" normal or alignment I Th'efresilientV anchorage-311s shown as compris- 50 lwith 'the longitudinal 'axisjofthe car. j K f 'ingfa back plate r'22whichf' forms :theitback: and g. 10 is aview'in partial section takenon the vertical side walls '-of a receptacle; :The anchor;- line III--III of Fig. 'l "f" j j l age'is also-providedrwith afrontplate 23nwhich partial section taken on'the is shown? asltting lbetween the side wallscf the v1.1 is'a view'in line II-#II of Fig. 4. 'f plate 22 and lalso forming the top and-bottom 55 Fig.` 12 is atop pla-n 4View in partialr section of sides ofv the anchorage:receptacle-; The plate 23 the'V draw ybar used in'combinationwith the male `ha'suan opening 24 throughl the front ,face and head. Y E' Fig." 13 ja` view inl-side elevation ofthe draw ofrtheficlevis member 26u" 1 'co bar shown in'Fig.'v12.-= f f @The spacedmembers25, form2a clevis within'o :through which projectsfthe spacedfmemberjs25 n when the couplerfis y is; when the head Fis centered, kas shown Lin Fig.;` 5. Y i The-headi and draw may swing inllunison which is mounted the held in pivotal relation to the pin 21 which `extends throughregistering openings(` in the Portions il and 2l. 4sBetweenv the plates 22 and 2l and thery clevismember 2l `are positioned heavy resilient cushion` members 2l and II arranged to take pling and during haulage ZI to yield rearwardly underimpact; l

In order `to better assist. thefresilient-pads and Il in supporting the coupler head in a hori- 23, `springs l preferablylocatedin sockets;o o pockets Il torminsa Partotthe clevlamemberfi-f if The spring ll "may be replaced-with resill pads of rubber `or `other equivalent. material sameas I employ in the pads!! and and might beL termed fcar i spring rubber," f o the` resilient pads `2s and 2) may heA position lupper end of the receptacle between;y olevis member menudeo n n i mounted atthe n lowerY end of" the receptacle tweenrtheclevis member and al instead of thefront. Wallis; y "lhle` medesime mounted inthe hollow butnngasainst the pin u. the,svrilutflll` i springt! asalluide Positioned in the openingti between bers l Mirthe Adraw baril 1s` .a center! *s ShOwnin F1354. l; dpersein F o y-(I'he link 341 isprovideciiwith` a pivotll; gage the plate 33 and alsohasy-iulcrums I of" which are seated against the clevispl mits immun` pcsitiomthat abouttne axis ofthejpin 21 wmietne centering link u swings kaboutthexzvoint. oilone ofthe iful- I cruxns` ll depending upon the direction loihswing; o

l `Referring to Fis-i 5,;the ycmipler;as.it wholefwill pivot about the axis-ot the pin A21V and assuming the link Mhadnoeii'ect upon itheispring a2 then theright-hand end of the f spring andUthe-pivot plate` `Il would Vfoliowi the path Xftheiradius n of whichis R (see Fig. 9)1. Howevertiwiththe link 34: operating "as it n does "the right-hand endy o! i the springii! and the pivot plates 1will follow `the path Y, the! radius oi which is Rand itwi ll be noted L `from Ii'igw` 9 that this` will producen` l i o 2,395,118@ n clevis entil ot thezdrawbar the clevis memberbv theimpactandbuiiil between the coupler andthe car both` in cou-1 and permits theplateA nal "ax zontai "position, I employrbetween the -`upper ponl ,o o tion otthe clevis member and the iront plate;

`III normally `,under compression' and "l s Y l `lil'esrr'ins to Fiss din n, me 2!" and thel vertical i walls Voi, the which caserthe s'pringsl .will be i `an ausnedpositxomtc adjacent rbeofltn the anchorage in as y bled relation., longs. 4 to 7 inclusive thebolts are shown sa merely hold- -ingthe parts of the anchorage in assembledrelation.;` but the ,bolts may; befrreplaced by longer .holtsfwhengthefcivice1istolbe` attached to a car body. n i

flnord'er to permitthe carsto be rotated about h` `u"longitudinalaxis` relative toeach other, as `e canse ot dumping a loaded car at a tlpple, t` i necessary thatjone of thepalr of couplers otat l lativ'eyto hejothernabout its longitudiandftogsecure" this relative rotation I l special" construction with respect to A o `ale coupler' althoughlthe same` constructin may be appliedV tothe i'e in which isms the `cvlindricalfporti -split ,collar composed 3 and 3 against `relative lrotascent the pin \-;prei'erab1y; V i irestswhen thecoupler heacis` arelin theirnormal position; rthat is; in o o be:couple d.To;.maintain thepin"` I l in thei-notchesizll, u. spring `4l islemployed which butts against lthepin Il and'which tends" to `move the head r i; and thefsleeve` 8l loutwardlyf buti moves Lthefpin :inwardly because the collar butts asainstltnensngewu of :the: draw bar which preventsk relative movement in onedirectionl andtthe huiilng Ii'aces llt will thzwilient whom@ wybar thon-rotatable unicientx` eiiort n exL the'saxne thatfwhcn o o v rmitting"the head I to rotatevrelativeltolthe drawbarfl. :Unider normalfcoditionsyand when thehead I is not coupled toits `companion coupler,"y the pin Il I and m compression of thespring` 82h` suchithatlasuthe i` coupler swingsto the rightyor totheleit-asthe case may be about the axis oi the pin 21 thespring f depending upon-'thezfde-` 13'! will be `compressed y sree yoi' jsiiving'o! the. coupler jirom ,f the normal position. The normal"` tensiomupon the spring 12;? thatis.;when thecoupleris in the longitudinali aligned position withlcpectto `theaxisioiifthe z caribody, willbesuillclentto `hold;tlieicoupler in its 1 centralwor normal position.: and pivotal y v movement of the coupler from this normal positionfwill increase `thel tensionyand fmakerthe returnqof-` the coupler to `its normal 'position that 0 much "more positive`.lwhenuncoup1ed; l

o tached to "front plates Cfand D oi.` thecan bodies i uit l f The #emile heid` Lmile headj and to honi1 mais coupler wn re i-tn'ef tion are thesame n .n viewi notie-im: Il arranged to `'receivetheproiectiony I on the without transverse or'ro g u o o tive `to each other. Pivotally mounted `ongthe head 42 n is the lockyi 2 `held inthe lockedposition by the spring i u and opened normally same `substantiallyi ovement i relacar coupler mechanism -drawbar of means proiecting laterally from oppoof the handle 45. It will be apparent that when the two heads are brought together, the lock I2 will be automatically moved out of its locking poscribed and which will ,engage with the frontv plate 23 of the anchorage if the head is swung too far from normal. The head 42 is provided witha flange 45' which butts against the face R.

of the male head when two heads are brought together. The coupler is provided with a centering device of the same principle and largely of the same construction as previously described and comprises a spring 32 which butts against the through rivets 46 and which at the other end is provided with a pivotal platev 33. 'Ijhe spring 32 and plate 33 are mounted within the draw bar which has a hollow cylindrical portion I1 and rearwardly projecting spaced members 48 which flt inthe space between the projecting members 25v and are held in pivotal relation thereto b y means of the pin 21. y

The draw bar is also provided with the centering link 34 whose relation to the draw bar and its operation is the same as previously explained. When two heads are brought .together the impact takes place between the faces 8 and 45' and this impact is transmitted to the resilient cushions 28. After the couplers are coupled and in haulage operation all further surges are taken up by therforward and back resillentcushions.

When it is desired to rotate or dump one car relative to its adjoining coupled car it is only necessary to place such car upon the tipple and rotate the tipple and the force exerted will overcome the tension of the spring 4| ofthe male coupler and permit the sides of the grooves l0 to force the pin i8 out of the grooves and permit the two heads to rotate with the cary and relative to the stationary car.

The front plate 23 latedto the plate 22 is so constructed and rethat it is adjustable and movable towards or away from the plate 22 whereby the resiliency of the members 28, 29 and 30 may be controlled to a considerable extent bv the bolts 31. A-

Modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and, therefore, I wish to be limited only by my claims.

I claim:

1. In a car coupler mechanism comprising a head for coupling to a cooperating head `and an anchorage for attaching the coupler to a car and also having a drawbar to pivotally attach the head to the anchorage for lateral swing of the head. the anchorage having faces transversely disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the the ycombination with the site sides of the drawbar adjacent the anchorage to engage with the transversely disposed anchorage faces to limit the lateral swing of the head from its central position to either side thereof. the said means each having a. vertical face obliquely disposed to the center axis of the head and drawbar, the angle of the faces to the said axis depending upon the degree of swing desired and the apex of the angle formed by extending the said obliquely disposed faces being located to the rear of the Vpivotal axis of the drawbar.

2. In combination,

a bumper support constituting a receptacle and composed of front and back parallel plates, an intermediate plate substantially parallel to ther front and back plates, rubber cushions disposed in parallel relation to-said plates between said plates whereby impact vin either direction`V normal to the said plateswill be absorbed by thel said rubber cushions,` openings in the front plate through which project spaced tongues integrally .formed with the said intermediate plate between which tongues a slot is formed in which may be positioned the end of a couplerl andmeans extending through the said front and back'plates whereby they may be moved towards each other to clamp and hold the said plates and cushions in place.

3. In combination,` a bumper support comprising front and back parallel plates, a 'draft'member comprising a plate portionpositioned intermediate the first saidrplates and having spaced lugs projecting through openings therefor in the front plate and-forming aclevis to receive a draft gear end, resilient cushions of organic material interposed betwen the plate of the draft member and the other plates to receive impact forces in' directions normal to the said plates, other resilient y,cushions 'between draft `member and the front member to l.assist the first said cushions to maintain the horizontal longitudinal axis of-thev draftv member substantially normal to the'front and back plates and means-to hold the intermediate parts in assembledrelation.V f f 4. In'combinationfa bumper support comprising front and back parallel plates, a draft'memmer comprising a plate portion positioned intermediate the first .said plates and having spaced lugs projecting through openings therefor in the front plate andv forming a clevis to -receive a draft gear end, resilient cushions of organic material interposed between the plate of thedraft member andthe other plates to receive impact forces indirections normal to the said plates, other resilient cushions of metal betweeny the plate of the draft member and the frontmember to assist the first said cushions to maintain the horizontal longitudinal axis of the draft member substantially normal to the front and back plates and means to hold the front and back plates and the intermediate parts in assembled relation. 'Y

5. In combination; a ing front'and back parallel plates, a draft member comprising a plate portionpositioned intermediate the first said platesand having'spaced lugs projecting through openings therefor in the front plate and forming a clevis to receive a draft gear end, resilient cushions of organic material interposed between the plate of the draft member and the other plates to receive impact forces in directions normal `to the said plates, other resilient cushions between member and the front member to assist the first said cushions'to maintain the horizontal longitudinal axis of the draft member substantially normal to the front and back plates and means to hold the front and back plates and the intermediate parts in vassembled relation.

6. In combination. `a coupler anchorage .comprising front and back plates, a draft member comprising a plate-like portion positioned interbumper support comprisr the plate of the the plate of the draft mediate the first said plates and havingspaced v i `cs e l @une vreeeedwentednzif ,theftration man tiieealinfbotntdi-L iirections, the trontrplatek-being movabletowardsl t the back plateand adjustable ineens*cooperating` with the irontandback plates wherebyfthepresi u iiuremupony the resilient cushionsmaygb'e warieda` i7. In,` combinatiom la coupler anchorage eenr-` e Y `piising frontrandfback4 piates'le draft-member comprising il.L plateflike portion positlonedixitere 1 mediate the ilrst said plates'` and` havingthree parallel `spaced lugs projectingithroughopeningsl therefor in ,one of the plates tovv receive; the end ofga coupler draft geai-Lresilientecushions'between the saidplate-like portion andthe iirstfsaidplates to" absorb the traction fsurgesfexerted; thereonziin i both directions,` e theA front; plate i being` movable i "towards the 1 beck plate and `Cdiuittitble;ineens l whereby the pressure upon i the r resilient' `cushions may `:be varied the `central one: "otlthe' three: par-i, alle]` plates arranged tozcooperatetwith @on the coupler draft gear to eectfan automatic celirV teringoi' the couplenwhenuncoupled;el

` @ezln combinationracoupler ancxliorage' adapt-,1 "edtowbesecuredvtoafcarzcombmnlfmntimd i f f andrew* *11 back` plates,` a Vdraft member,eornxarising` a plate-z like portion positioned `*between `the `dirsi; fsaid plates and having spaced-lugs projecting:throughy `openings intone. ofthe plates to receive ai coupler p tail, `resilient cushions ofi mont-metallici-mteril e f 3o positioned `between the :said piate+1ik`e;portion and the saidplates? to act under-1;compresaloni-to` me? Quale `with bwllih? Nether coupled andy are. constantly Ymaeiinto t return to lthe normalposition when moved aidewm therefrom, springgheidlatching; means :cooperating termed' e ,relatant whe/febr wel @embers the :companion when permitting" the head inember toy rotate/rel to is'` applied [,to A"the head .iupbnitelongitudinalaxis t edmbrleina" e 511e eerhbietiene heimembtrfvm'- 2 absorb; theg traction isurgeaifexerteii;tlieiieunp;inf` d l both;directions;` resilient@metallic` :nieausi`iitei`` i posed between itheplate-like portion andjone #of the tirstsaidplate's tolassistfthe :resilient cushions in maintaining the ,draiti member injproperealign: ment when supportingia ccuplemmeuns coopertingwith the plate-hummm and witnftne ire r 1 silientimetallic means tomaintain the relation .40 of thesaid means tothejotherpartsiot tlieycoin-y bination and means;` to; `hold` in asi `sembled relation;` 1

chor member I pivotally attached to the ysaidl body .5o member to support thejaforesaid members fand taeleito receive ae-portion ,ot .the anchor-member. Y `the `receptacle provided,` with a supporting lmexnfe i ber whereby it `maybe attachedtoa 55 also1r provided withinL yielilablis front mernber,v i p member;` to engage ,thelsaid 1means011411@` e w. e iront member when the headl piyots toa prede,"-` e iw-mined, position. esmentmateriaii interposed i :between the saia i poi-tien or the anemiw en# the adjacent Wel1ee1wwe`wv6mne memf bei*v andthe 1front.. meubel-te` cushion; thegfpce 1 `lastteili'df.olllieansouiidvfrlint'member hen je `ef: Pointe; l e `cbl?!l'Iwifnbl."e011 ovveieifelideelef e vertleel; lane aanleiding" with, the, ioiigituuinai or me coupier-,1 the spi-ing pressure en'` the centering krineinber `being exerted longitudinally toward the`an chor "member whereby the'head memi e carj'and tok couple 'with'.afqcompanion coupler fixed .45 againstrotation upon its" longitudinalaxiswcoin` prising, in combination a head:"xnexnber;A provided e with a rearwardly projecting memberfslid n e ably and` rotatably therewith;` anfan-f sii brought together but"Deinittilig` the head memy berlto relative" to the 3 bodimember-*when` 45 sumcient otatal'iiel.torcel applied vitothe head iiierxiber]JW to overcome i the Sforce* of the "spring l holding the .fliitihirigr (means.) and :means associated with `"thcli'ol'es'iiid` head to Vcooperate with means the companidncoupier to 5o holdkthellplelwinwubbd 1781530@ il lvili A` cai-,coupienfadapted bewm'ounted on a ear and to eoupieiwith a companion coupler comprisingin combination a headmember protutele*rnjfsvuiedv4 with 11 afi suppomnggwmember' and im e Yyiillijialile" iront'l` 'x'eaiiintlA intere "body" me'inbers,

"and li'ie'itris associated'lwithfthe Vmember to "cooperate` `with means i on companion head hold the heads in coupled relittioridv tire tothe member when l0 

